Warren Perrin: Protect the 'Sportsman's Paradise' before it becomes lost

Those born and raised in south Louisiana recall a time when we boasted that our state was a "Sportsman's Paradise." It was something we printed on our automobile license plates.

As we became old enough to travel, we were surprised to learn that people in other states did not have our cuisine, music or French culture. We discovered that what we had taken for granted was unique and made Louisiana a special place. We should all be concerned about what the quality of life in Louisiana would be like if we lost the things that make us unique. Our "Sportsman's Paradise" would become "Paradise Lost."

It is important to bear in mind that many - especially across south Louisiana - depend on the continued vitality of our natural resources for a living.

So what is the big threat to this way of life? Ironically, it is an industry that has been very good for our state in certain respects - the oil industry.

We should never forget that Louisiana has been very good to the oil industry - better, in fact, that it has been to us. The oil companies have made massive fortunes harvesting our oil and gas - some $240 billion in the last 20 years from the coastal zone alone. But their record as stewards of the environment is embarrassing, and it threatens our way of life.

Louisiana had the richest mineral deposits per capita of any state, but 110 years after the first production of oil, our state is like the prodigal son who squandered his gifts. We remain last or near the bottom of every important category, including education. Meanwhile, the oil companies continue to report record profits.

There is something wrong with this picture. In return for supplying the nation with oil and gas for more than a century, Louisiana has suffered dreadful damage.

First, we've seen extensive contamination of its soil and groundwater.

Second, thanks to inadequate regulations and lax enforcement, we now have thousands of abandoned oil wells.

Finally - and perhaps most alarmingly - we've seen a massive amount of our coastline slip into the Gulf of Mexico.

The coastal marshes are a buffer against storm flooding - a buffer that is disappearing. Incredibly, under Louisiana Civil Code article 450, Louisiana owns all navigable water bottoms, including the minerals. This means that even if a citizen owns the title to the land, once it goes under water it then belongs to the state! Tellingly, the state has a clear disincentive to prevent coastline erosion as it benefits by receiving the royalties the landowner would have received.

Such abusive governmental policies compelled Gen. Russel Honoré to form a coalition of many groups of citizens he calls the Green ARMY. He will host a town hall meeting in Lafayette at 7 p.m. today at the Clifton Chenier Center at 220 W. Willow St. The public is invited to attend.

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Warren Perrin: Protect the 'Sportsman's Paradise' before it becomes lost

Those born and raised in south Louisiana recall a time when we boasted that our state was a 'Sportsman's Paradise.' It was something we printed on our automobile license plates.